A REPLACEMENT bus service linking Ceredigion to Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff will start running on Monday.

The return of the 701 service, now known as the T1 service, has been welcomed in Ceredigion after the previous service collapsed when operator Lewis Coaches, of Llanrhystud, went into administration in August.

It will stop at Aberystwyth, Aberaeron and Lampeter before heading to Carmarthen, Swansea and Cardiff.

Following the intervention of the Welsh Government, the service has been resurrected. Ceredigion AM Elin Jones and Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet member for transport, Cllr Alun Williams, welcomed its return.

Ms Jones said: “I am delighted to say that this vital service between Aberystwyth and Cardiff is re-established, a large number of constituents have missed it.

“The previous service was a commercial bus without subsidy, but the new bus service will fall under the umbrella of the Welsh Government’s TrawsCymru service.

“There will be one service to Cardiff and back a day, between Monday and Saturday, and it will be free to pensioners and those with concessionary fare cards.

“There is currently no planned direct bus service on Sundays, but in six months time, the government will review the service to ensure it runs effectively."

See next week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online on Wednesday